Reginald Potts Speaks Out In Nailah Franklin Case

Nailah Franklin & Reginald Potts (inset)

Reginald Potts -- the man linked to Nailah Franklin as her ex-boyfriend (Potts denies having a boyfriend relationship with Nailah Franklin in the Sun-Times report) -- speaks out against the advice of his attorneys in an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times' Mary Mitchell.

Thursday, against the advice of his attorneys, Potts talked for the first time on the record about his relationship with Franklin. Given his past, he's well aware that the circumstances surrounding her death have created a perfect storm that could sweep him into criminal proceedings.

Previous Posts: Nailah Franklin

Ironic -- Convicted Tax Evader Wants County Income Tax

Convicted tax evader Lake County Councilman Will Smith Jr. hopes to be able to tax Lake County residents' income and is trying to form a coalition to get a new tax on income passed by the Lake County Commissioners, reports the Northwest Indiana Times.

Two commissioners -- Fran DuPey and Gerry Scheub -- oppose the idea.

Says Will Smith Jr.

"I wish I could say that we had them, but we will work with our lobbyists, our mayors and legislators to put together a package that would be palatable to all."

Opponents of a Lake County income tax fear most cities and towns in the county will end up "donating" their tax revenues to Gary, East Chicago, and Whiting -- receiving little in return for the millions that will be paid by their residents.

A similar scenario is happening with property taxes in Griffith being "donated" to Calumet Township and has resulted in a secession movement.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Steve Carter wants Will Smith Jr. to step down because of Smith's conviction for tax evasion.

"I think sometimes public officials should look at the honorable thing to do, and what clearly would be the honorable thing (would be) for him to step out of the picture at this point," Steve Carter said.

"I hope he does that. And if he doesn't, I'm sure there will be more efforts in the Legislature to make sure that convicted criminals don't continue to draw public sector salaries while they're awaiting sentencing."

Does anyone else see the irony in a pol who was convicted of tax evasion related to money taken as a "finder's fee" in a corrupt GUEA swindle hoping to raise the rest of our taxes?

In Honor of Northwest Indiana's Astronauts

In honor of the astronauts from Northwest Indiana and Purdue, including Frank Borman, Jerry Ross and Mark Brown, here's a roundup of recent astronaut news, see videos below.

Video: Sunday Spacewalk at the International Space Station

Video: Neil Armstrong Speaks At Purdue University

Should Tax Evasion Conviction Keep Pol From Power?

A local pol is holding tight to power, despite being convicted by a jury of felony tax evasion.

The Northwest Indiana Times is calling for someone to boot the convicted politician from the Lake County Council.

One month ago, Lake County Councilman Will Smith Jr. was found guilty by a jury of his peers.

The jury found Smith guilty on a felony tax evasion charge, but Smith still serves on the County Council. How can that be?

That question is even more compelling in light of a 2005 state law that requires public officials be removed from office upon conviction of a felony.

It's Lake County where there's a cornucopia of corruption filled with enough graft for all!

Why should something like a felony conviction keep someone from power and control over taxpayers' money?

Maybe we should beg our elected officials to raise the property tax a little more so that we can keep our leaders living in the style to which they've become accustomed.

Airbus A380 Completes First Commercial Flight & A Time Lapse Video

Airbus' monstrous A380 jet is something to behold. The BBC has released a time lapse video of the huge A380 being built for Singapore Airlines. See video below.

Writes the Guardian Unlimited's Gillian Wong on board the A380's first commercial flight:

A Singapore Airlines A380 made aviation history Thursday, completing the first commercial flight by the world's largest jetliner that boasts luxurious suites, double beds and the quietest interior of any plane.

With 455 passengers, the Airbus superjumbo lifted off safely from Singapore's Changi Airport and landed about seven hours later in Sydney. Also on board Flight SQ380 were a crew of about 30, including four pilots.

Flight attendants handed out champagne and certificates to passengers, some of whom paid tens of thousands of dollars in an online auction for the seats.

``I have never been in anything like this in the air before in my life,'' said Australian Tony Elwood, reclining with his wife, Julie, on the double bed in their private first-class suite.

``It is going to make everything else after this simply awful,'' he said, sipping Dom Perignon rose after a lunch of marinated lobster and double boiled chicken soup. He paid $50,000 for the two places.

Since Boeing is a Chicago-based company, I'm personally biased toward their products, but I assume that sooner or later, we'll be seeing the Airbus A380 flying around the area on its way to the international terminal at O'Hare Airport. Lufthansa plans to fly a Chicago to Frankfurt route using the A380 in 2008.

Video: Singapore Airlines' A380 being built in time lapse

Video: Airbus A380's First Commercial Flight

Space Shuttle Still Amazes

While it didn't get a lot of attention -- I don't think I heard anything about the Space Shuttle blasting off yesterday because of news about the California fires -- there's something always amazing about watching video of a space shot.

Reports the AP:

Shuttle Discovery and its crew of seven thundered into orbit Tuesday, setting off on the most challenging space station construction mission yet that will pave the way for the arrival of two science labs in a few months.

Video: Space Shuttle Discovery Blasts Off

Video: Space Shuttle Discovery Launches Harmony Unit to Space Station

Video: Local Astronaut Daniel Tani Blasts Off

Mitch Daniels Proposes 33% Property Tax Cut

Gov. Mitch Daniels announced a plan that would cut Indiana taxpayer's property taxes by 33 percent, reports the Northwest Indiana Times. Mitch Daniels' property tax relief proposal speech can be viewed at the governor's website on IN.gov.

Writes the Times' Patrick Guinane:

Gov. Mitch Daniels is asking Hoosiers to embrace a penny sales tax hike and tighter controls on local government spending in exchange for a complex property tax relief plan designed to trim the average homeowners bill by roughly a third.

The proposal presented Tuesday night, which will go before the General Assembly in January, would have the state assume $3.2 billion in school and child welfare costs now shouldered by local property owners. And homeowners would receive future protection, beginning in 2009, from a circuit breaker that would cap tax bills at 1 percent of a home's assessed value.

According to Mitch Daniels' property tax plan fact sheet (PDF), Indiana's governor proposes the following:

1% cap on residential property taxes.

2% cap on rental property taxes.

3% cap on business property taxes.

Use the current formula for agricultural property tax assessments.

Amend Indiana's constitution to make caps permanent.

Local property tax relief funded by a 1 cent sales tax increase ($928 million), tax on race track slots ($100 million), "redeploying state PTRC subsidies to local government" ($2.028 billion), state surplus ($80 million), "use state combined balance to increase 'Rainy Day Fund'" ($50 million; state payment of some local expenses including K-12 schools' budgets and care for abused, neglected and delinquent children. All figures are 2009 estimates, per the governor's office.

Limiting government spending and consolidating property tax assessment system.

See also:

Text of Mitch Daniels' property tax relief speech (PDF).

Mitch Daniels' property tax relief Q&A sheet (PDF).

A Lake County Food & Beverage Tax? It's Already In The Indiana Code.

The Lake County Convention and Visitors Bureau wants a food and beverage tax to pay for a Lake County Convention Center.

The legislature approved the food and beverage tax for Lake County, but it hasn't been approved by the Lake County Council, according to the Northwest Indiana Times.

The bureau has committed to funding a feasibility study of the concept and will push for a food and beverage tax to fund the convention center, according to LCCVB President and CEO Speros Batistatos.

The Indiana Code allows a tax of 1% of the gross retail income on certain food and beverage transactions.

IC 6-9-36-3

Imposition of tax; rescission of tax; ordinances; transmission of ordinance to state

Sec. 3. (a) The fiscal body of a county described in section 1 of this chapter may adopt an ordinance to impose an excise tax, known as the food and beverage tax, on those transactions described in sections 4 and 5 of this chapter that occur anywhere within the county.

(b) The following apply if the fiscal body of the county imposes a tax under this chapter:

(1) The rate of the tax equals one percent (1%) of the gross retail income on the transaction. For purposes of this chapter, the gross retail income received by the retail merchant from such a transaction does not include the amount of tax imposed on the transaction under IC 6-2.5 or this chapter.

(2) The fiscal body shall immediately send a certified copy of the ordinance to the commissioner of the department of state revenue.

(3) The tax applies to transactions that occur after the last day of the month that follows the month in which the ordinance was adopted.

(4) The fiscal body may adopt an ordinance to rescind the tax. The rescission of the tax takes effect after the last day of the month that follows the month in which the ordinance to rescind the tax is adopted. However, the fiscal body may not rescind the tax if there are bonds outstanding or leases or other obligations for which the tax has been pledged under IC 36-7.5.

As added by P.L.214-2005, SEC.45.

IC 6-9-36-4

Transactions taxed

Sec. 4. Except as provided in section 6 of this chapter, a tax imposed under section 3 of this chapter applies to any transaction in which food or beverage is furnished, prepared, or served:

(1) for consumption at a location, or on equipment, provided by a retail merchant;

(2) in the county or political subdivision, or both, in which the tax is imposed; and

(3) by a retail merchant for consideration.

As added by P.L.214-2005, SEC.45.

IC 6-9-36-5

Transactions taxed

Sec. 5. Transactions described in section 4(1) of this chapter include transactions in which food or beverage is:

(1) served by a retail merchant off the merchant's premises;

(2) food sold in a heated state or heated by a retail merchant;

(3) two (2) or more food ingredients mixed or combined by a retail merchant for sale as a single item (other than food that is only cut, repackaged, or pasteurized by the seller, and eggs, fish, meat, poultry, and foods containing these raw animal foods requiring cooking by the consumer as recommended by the federal Food and Drug Administration in chapter 3, subpart 3-401.11 of its Food Code so as to prevent food borne illnesses); or

(4) food sold with eating utensils provided by a retail merchant, including plates, knives, forks, spoons, glasses, cups, napkins, or straws (for purposes of this subdivision, a plate does not include a container or packaging used to transport the food).

As added by P.L.214-2005, SEC.45.

IC 6-9-36-6

Transactions exempt

Sec. 6. The food and beverage tax under this chapter does not apply to the furnishing, preparing, or serving of any food or beverage in a transaction that is exempt, or to the extent exempt, from the state gross retail tax imposed by IC 6-2.5.

As added by P.L.214-2005, SEC.45.

Excelsior Equestrian Center Rebuilds After Storm Blows Down Horse Arena

Hobart's Excelsior Equestrian Center plans a grand reopening November 3 -- a celebration just months after an August storm blew down its horse arena on 6780 Lincolnway Street, reports CBS 2 Chicago's Pamela Jones -- see video below.

Video: Excelsior Equestrian Center rebuilds after devastating storm.

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Mitch Daniels To Unveil Constitutional Amendment For Property Tax Reform Tomorrow

Governor Mitch Daniels has announced that he will be making a speech about taxes tomorrow at 5 p.m. CDT. News reports say Mitch Daniels will offer up a constitutional amendment as a solution to Indiana's property tax crisis.

Since we are in the Chicago media market, we'll either have to read about it in the newspaper or watch the live broadcast via the web at Indiana's IN.gov website.

The Indianapolis Star reports Governor Mitch Daniels could offer a constitutional amendment to provide for property tax reform:

Gov. Mitch Daniels will suggest amending Indiana's constitution when he reveals his plan for property tax relief in a live TV broadcast tomorrow evening, his office said today.

Writes Indiana Barrister's Abdul Hakim-Shabazz:

No one in the Governor's office is commenting, but from what I've been able to gather Daniels will not call for the elimination of property taxes, particularly residential but he does plan to get them as low as possible.

I wish I was able to find a link on IN.gov to the webcast, but I haven't been able to find the announcement yet.

Here's a news report based on Governor Mitch Daniel's news release:

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels will outline his plan for property tax relief for Hoosiers on Tuesday. He will describe his plan during remarks that will be offered for live broadcast at 6 p.m. (5 p.m. in Northwest Indiana).

According to a press release, Daniels' plan will offer "fair, far-reaching and final property tax relief" for Hoosier homeowners. He will seek an amendment to Indiana’s Constitution to make changes permanent.

New I-355 Extension To Open Soon. Let's Connect The Illiana Expressway With I-355!

I-355 South Extension
aka the
Veterans Memorial Tollway
could open Nov. 12

A southern extension of I-355 in Illinois' Will County will connect I-80 with I-55, offering a new option for travelers heading north to Illinois' northwestern burbs. The Chicago Tribune reports that the new I-355 extension is the first new toll road built in Illinois in 20 years.

Here's a link to a map (PDF) of the I-355 South Extension.

All we need now to relieve Northwest Indiana's road congestion is to built the Illiana Expressway from I-65 to I-57, then from I-57 to I-80 as an extension linking Northwest Indiana with Illinois' Northwest suburbs.

Here's something cool for people interested in getting an up close look at the new project. The Illinois Tollway is planning to let people walk, bike and rollerblade on the new section of the roadway as part of the I-355 Southern Extension's opening celebrations.

The Illinois Tollway, Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs (IDVA) and SALUTE, Inc. are offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for families to run, walk or roll on the new 12.5-mile I-355 South Extension from I-55 to I-80 as part of the Nov. 11, Grand-Opening Celebration and Commemoration for the new Veterans Memorial Tollway. Proceeds from the 5K Family Run, Walk and Roll will go to programs supporting active military personnel, Veterans and their families.

Related Video:

Residents in Lamont fight plans for digital billboards along new I-355 South Extension.

Did LaPorte County Dodge A Bullet By Not Joining The RDA?

Did LaPorte County "dodge a bullet" by not joining the Northwest Indiana regional development authority with it's mission to "set high goals and a bold and intrepid vision in order to stimulate a significant economic rebirth in Northwest Indiana" by focusing on planes, trains, buses and Lake Michigan lakefront development (and also some Lake County flood control projects).

Professor Maurice Eisenstein thinks so.

Now that they have fully appreciated what the NWI Regional Development Authority (RDA) is all about, the NWI County of LaPorte is counting its blessings for having said "NO!" to that useless, self-serving organization. Citizens of LaPorte County consider themselves lucky; they dodged a bullet aimed at their heart from Governor Mitch Daniels trying to get them to join a sinking ship. ...

And what is LaPorte County's prize for not joining? LaPorte citizens will miss out on the chance to pay for Lake County's flood control to the tune of over $6 million so that Governor Daniels can be assured of re-election.

Campaign Finance Reports Show No Major Surprises

The Northwest Indiana Times reports that Lake County campaign finance reports are out.

The result that the Democrats have thousands of dollars to each Republican dollar isn't surprising.

Major Democratic candidates in Lake County have major dollars, and they are spending them lavishly, Lake County campaign finance records filed Friday show.

The Lake County Board of Elections and Voter Registration released campaign finance disclosure reports indicating Democrats running for mayor in Gary, Hammond, East Chicago and Hobart are outspending their Republican opponents by a wide margin.

Prediction -- the candidates with the most money will be the winners.

Maybe a candidate or two can donate some money to help out struggling Merrillville before it closes down for lack of funds after an audit discovered someone swiped $300,000 from the town's budget.

On another electoral note, elections are coming up in Cuba and people are mad that they aren't getting low cost government houses that were promised decades ago. When three generations are crammed into small houses, it causes unrest among the people.

Of course, the country is communist, so we can assume the selection of the official party candidate won't be affected.

We shouldn't feel so bad here in Lake County. At least we aren't to the point yet where we are waiting in line to get a house and a car from our local government party leaders. However, we could see a day when we're all lining up at the Township Office to submit our application forms so that we can get a priority date for our free government health care.

Antonin Scalia Speaks At Valparaiso University

Supreme Court Justice
Antonin Scalia

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia spoke at Valparaiso University's Chapel of the Resurrection yesterday.

In these days of conservative speakers being run off or shouted down by those who disagree, the amiable Midwestern spirit of willingness to listen to neighbors and engage in intellectual discourse ruled the day. Maybe it was Justice Antonin Scalia's humor that won over those who weren't philosophically aligned.

It's refreshing to read in Jane Huh's Post-Tribune report that intellectual opponents were listening to Antonin Scalia:

Jennie McCrimmon, who is studying history and secondary education, is not a Scalia fan.

"He's very very conservative and I'm not," said McCrimmon, a junior from Downers Grove, Ill. But, she said, the justice is to be respected for his national influence.

"Since I've been here, he's one of the biggest names that we've had," McCrimmon said.

"I'm a philosophical opponent of the justice," said Arvid Sponberg, professor of English, who thinks Scalia's interpretation of the constitution is "wrong." "But you can't deny that he is probably one of the most articulate and approachable conservative voices in America. Plus, he's got a sense of humor."

Gary Democrat Warns SCHIP Bill Could Make Indiana A Donor State

State Rep. Charlie Brown, a Democrat from Gary, warns that the SCHIP bill before Congress could result in Indiana taxpayers' money being "donated" to other states. Under that scenario, Indiana taxpayers would end up sending more money to other states than its children would receive back in benefits.

The Washington Post has an overview of the SCHIP program.

Democrats might not have enough votes to override President Bush's veto of the SCHIP bill, according to the AP.

Democrats appeared about 15 votes short in the House heading into Thursday's attempt to override Bush's veto of their $35 billion spending increase for the program.

The SCHIP bill is popular -- according to a CBS poll, 81% surveyed supported expanding SCHIP and 74% supported paying more taxes. See video below.

Senators Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar as well as Representative Pete Visclosky voted in favor of expanding SCHIP payments.

Writes the Post-Tribune:

Even those normally supportive of children's health issues, such as State Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, oppose the House bill and side with Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, Bush's former budget director.

Brown and the governor's administration say Indiana would be a net loser under the SCHIP bill, which would add a 61-cent cigarette tax increase on top of the 44 cents the General Assembly passed this year. Indiana is one of 14 states to pass state programs that would expand SCHIP and cover more uninsured children and their families.

Brown said Indiana's congressional delegation is split by political divisions and regional loyalties and fears that Indiana would become a donor state under the expanded SCHIP program, which would see an out migration of revenue from the state because of its high number of smokers.

Battle over SCHIP bill in the House of Representatives today.

CIGNA's CEO speaks about SCHIP.

A Trip To China & The Northwest Passage

Every so often, I feel the need to take a trip somewhere away from Northwest Indiana. There's something in the human spirit that requires exploration, discovery, and the renewal of seeing new places.

Of course, I can't physically leave for vacation just yet, so I'll have to do a virtual vacation of the mind made possible through the magic of video.

If I had unlimited time and money, I'd like to visit China one of these days. Luckily, I can see what there is to see in China before I save the money and book the tickets for a flight. China On TV takes us on a journey to the bank of the Lijang River where we can imagine we are viewing the spectacular scenery and sampling some authentic Chinese food -- River Snail and Longbarbel Catfish.

There's always something romantic about taking a cruise across the seas. How about a journey through the Northwest Passage -- formerly frozen and inaccessible.

In this report, the BBC takes a trip through the Northwest Passage on a research vessel.

More on the shrinking ice that has made the Northwest Passage reality.

There's a "gold rush" going on in the Northwest Passage as various countries try to stake their claims. The Russians just recently planted a flag at the north pole.

Michael Vicks' Dogs Get VUSL Guardian Rebecca Huss

Valparaiso University School of Law professor Rebecca Jean Huss has been appointed guardian-special master of Atlanta Falcon's quarterback Michael Vick's pittbulls, reports the Baltimore Sun.

A federal judge overseeing the case of the pit bulls in the Michael Vick dogfighting case has appointed Rebecca Huss, a law professor at Valporaiso University, as special master to look after the canine's interests.

Writes the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

Huss may recommend that a particular pit bull can be rehabilitated and should be put up for adoption, or that it ought to be sent to a sanctuary to live out its life. The order also does not rule out euthanasia in cases where the dog is deemed intensely aggressive toward people or if it it has a medical condition.

Huss, 40, is a professor at Valparaiso University School of Law in Indiana. The motion to appoint Huss as guardian-special master was submitted by Chuck Rosenberg, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. He called Huss "a leading expert in animal law in the United States."

Mystery -- Who Hit Walking Mike?

Cook County Sheriff's police are looking for the driver who hit a man known as "Walking Mike" whose body was severed because of the force of the collision.

It is a horrific story -- police say Michael Cranston's legs and feet were found in Matteson Friday night. Walking Mike's body was found in Alsip on Sunday.

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart says police have evidence that will lead them to the driver who hit and ran after crashing into Michael "Walking Mike" Cranston. News reports say parts of the car left at the scene and in the victim's body had serial numbers.

Reports the Chicago Tribune:

"We're going to catch this [driver]," Dart said Monday at a news conference outside Cook County Jail.

"It's just a matter of whether they want to come in at this juncture right now and come off as someone who might be somewhat reasonable and had panicked, or someone who we're going to handcuff and bring in down the road. . . . If we have to go out and get them ourselves, there is little mercy that will be seen for a person like that." ...

"I can't conceive of a scenario where the driver didn't know they hit this individual," Dart said. "This is a situation where a person hit the individual and decided they were going to conceal it." ...

"An individual who wanted to cover up that crime immediately had a forest preserve right there, readily available," Dart said. "Does that mean that the [driver] lives in the general area where the body was found? We're narrowing all that down right now."

Police Search For Hit & Run Driver:

Nailah Franklin Case Update -- $10K Reward Offered For Info Leading To Arrest

Nailah Franklin's
family is offering
a $10,000 reward

Nailah Franklin's family is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect in her killing, reports the Daily Southtown.

Anyone with information should contact the Harrison Area Special Victims Unit at (312) 746-9259.

Related stories:

Nailah Franklin's Ex Arrested in Unrelated Case.

Nailah Franklin Remembered. Trinity Pastor Vows Justice For Nailah.

Nailah Franklin's Funeral Set For Wednesday.

Rest in Peace Nailah Franklin.

Prayers For Nailah Franklin As Police Continue Investigation.

Nailah Franklin's Body Found in Calumet City, Reports Fox News. Police Haven't Confirmed.

Missing Nailah Franklin's Car Found in Hammond.

$50M Lawsuit Filed In Abandoned Victims Case

Dominique Green's parents -- the Gary teenager who wasn't found by first responders after a car crash on Chase Street in Gary, Indiana -- have filed a $50 million lawsuit against Gary, Indiana and the Gary Police Department for failure to search for Dominique Green, reports the Northwest Indiana Times.

A $50 million lawsuit was filed Monday against the city of Gary and its police department for failing to search for two young men ejected from a car during a crash one month ago.

The young men -- Brandon Smith and Dominique Green, both 18 -- were found dead by family members hours after the crash. In filing the lawsuit, personal injury attorney Kenneth J. Allen alleges Green, whose family he's representing, was alive at the time police ignored pleas to search for the pair.

From an earlier Northwest Indiana Region Life report about Dominique Green's funeral:

Dominique Green was one of two teens who was killed in a recent Gary, Indiana auto accident. He and Brandon Smith were left behind after the accident when emergency responders didn't find them after a survivor pleaded "Please go get my friends," according to news reports.

Gary police officials say that they searched for the victims, but weren't able to find them. The Lake County coroner released a report that said that the victims had died instantly.

Is Al-Qaeda Smashed?

Just when it seems that there's no way that we can win the Iraq War -- a former general says we can't win, the Marine commandant wants to pull out (see videos below) and major Middle Eastern ally recalls its ambassador in protest and might cut off US supply lines because of a congressional vote -- comes news that the United States might have smashed Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Reports the Washington Post this morning:

The U.S. military believes it has dealt devastating and perhaps irreversible blows to al-Qaeda in Iraq in recent months, leading some generals to advocate a declaration of victory over the group, which the Bush administration has long described as the most lethal U.S. adversary in Iraq. ...

There is widespread agreement that AQI has suffered major blows over the past three months. Among the indicators cited is a sharp drop in suicide bombings, the group's signature attack, from more than 60 in January to around 30 a month since July. Captures and interrogations of AQI leaders over the summer had what a senior military intelligence official called a "cascade effect," leading to other killings and captures. The flow of foreign fighters through Syria into Iraq has also diminished, although officials are unsure of the reason and are concerned that the broader al-Qaeda network may be diverting new recruits to Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Could it be that we've won the war, while losing the war?

Retired general Richardo Sanchez says the Iraq War is a "nightmare with no end in sight":

Marines' commandant wants to pull out of Iraq:

Another Federal Investigation ...

The Gary Sanitary District is being investigated by the feds who are looking into waste discharges into the Grand Calumet River and $16 million of loans made to Gary's general fund, reports the Northwest Indiana Times.

Fiery I-5 Truck Crash -- Could Traffic Jams Here Cause The Same Thing To Happen?

Could a burning inferno caused by trucks crashing into each other -- like the kind recently seen on I-5 in Los Angeles county, California near Santa Clarita -- happen on Northwest Indiana's roadways?

The AP has video from the scene of the fiery truck crash on I-5 in Los Angeles county, California:

At least three people were killed and 10 injured in the multi-truck pile up on the freeway -- the I-5 near the 14 Freeway -- that connects southern and northern California.

Trucks crashing into each other Saturday sparked an inferno inside of a tunnel, reports the Los Angeles Times via the Chicago Tribune:

The chain-reaction crash and fire that closed the freeway, which carries 225,000 vehicles a day, occurred Friday night in a southbound tunnel used primarily by truckers. The tunnel passes under the main freeway, which is supported by the tunnel's concrete roof.

While we don't have trucks only tunnels on Northwest Indiana's expressways, we do have a lot of truck traffic and a lot of accidents, especially when traffic suddenly stops because of congestion or road construction.

Recently, the Indiana State Police promised to crack down on speeding on a deadly construction zone on I-65 where roadwork is being done to improve ramps connecting the interstate to the Borman Expressway ( I-80 & I-94 ) after a woman was killed when she ran into traffic that had slowed at the interchange.

Just like the I-5 area where the truck fires happened, thousands of trucks pass through our area.

We need to make sure that transportation officials take into consideration the huge numbers of cars and trucks that pass through Northwest Indiana daily when planning future construction projects so that the lessons that will be learned from the I-5 truck inferno as officials continue with their investigations can be applied to future roadwork projects here and elsewhere in the Chicago and Northwest Indiana region.

The I-5 fiery truck crash causes huge traffic jams in California, reports KCAL's Lonnie Rivera:

More on the I-5 truck tunnel inferno:

The CBC reports officials fear the I-5 tunnel could collapse:

I-5 fire results in huge traffic detours in California:

Penguin Cams Capture Antarctic Life

Penguin wearing a camera backpack

A penguin swims beneath ice wearing a camera

Cameras are everywhere, as we learned from looking at Google's Street View service and viewing the pictures of Chicago and a few parts of Northwest Indiana captured as the Google Street View team wandered around Chicago.

Now, cameras are invading the animal kingdom.

Penguins wearing camera have been filming Antarctic life for scientists, reports National Geographic. Researchers watching the penguin videos have discovered that penguins hunt prey by lurking beneath the ice and watching for shadows.

There's something fun about watching penguins swimming around underwater filming everything they see.